Scots Football Finding a Way

by Dan Nolan

Monmouth, IL (08/29/2019) — With the 2019 hashtag #FindAWay as its mantra, coach Chad Braun's football players will have to fill some big shoes if they're to compete for their third Midwest Conference title in five years.

Among the Monmouth College departures due to graduation on offense are DeAndre Wright, who rushed for nearly 4,000 yards in his four-year career; the top two receivers from 2018 - Jacolby Maxwell and Yansay Williams; and two-year starting quarterback Hayden Nelson. Defensively, the Scots are minus a pair of dominant defensive ends, as the program's sack record holder, All-American Thomas Lesniewski, and Lamar Watson will need replaced up front along with a majority of the linebacking corps.

"We lost a lot of great players on both sides of the ball," admitted Braun, who enters his fifth year at the helm with a 35-7 career record. "Replacing those guys is a challenge, but it's the same every year. You never fully replace anyone, but if you've recruited well, you have guys waiting in the wings. That's the situation we're in. We have a very deep returning group and some very talented newcomers ready to make their mark. We may not have those premier guys, but we'll find a way to work hard and get better every day."

Monmouth may not have a 1,000-yard rusher this season, but perhaps only because of depth. No fewer than four veterans enter the season in the mix, including sophomore Devin Lawrence (Hawthorne, Fla./Hawthorne), who rushed for 282 yards last season and averaged nearly five yards per carry - both tops among the returners. Senior Jeren Stewart (Peoria, Ill./Limestone), junior Alec Cooley (Clinton, Ill./Clinton) and sophomore Terrance Best (Belleville, N.J./Queen of Peace) headline the upper echelon of returners trying to hold off a talented recruiting class of ball carriers.

"We're really excited about the running back position," smiled Braun. "Our returners are tough to beat, but we've got a plethora of new guys are who are very talented, maybe the most talented group of running backs since I've been at Monmouth."

Braun's offensive unit also graduated a pair of explosive wide receivers, but he's also touting a deep and dangerous receiving corps for 2019. Senior Wesley Anderson (Heyworth, Ill./Heyworth) and juniors Triston Gibson (Houston, Texas/Pearland) and Nathan Graham (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) - a three-year starter - combined for more than 470 yards and six touchdowns a season ago. Three other returners - sophomore Jake Uryasz (Farmington, Ill./Farmington) and juniors Jake Landry (Sugar Land, Texas/Kempner) and Seth Foster (Palmer, Ill./Morrisonville) - and "a bunch" of newbies are vying for four receiving positions.

"Nathan, Triston and Wesley have the experience," reported Braun. "I expect they'll all see plenty of action. The fourth receiver spot is sorting itself out. We've got a really good freshman class of receivers, so it's been a good competition."

Getting the ball to the receivers is up to the yet-to-be-named starting quarterback. It's a six-man battle in the early going. Senior Brennan White (Virden, Ill./North Mac) is the only QB to throw a pass last season. Junior Gavin Gard (Danville, Ill./Schlarman) and sophomore Walker Dycus (Sanford, Fla./Lake Mary) waited in the wings last season and could make the move to No. 1 this season.

"Gavin, Walker and Brennan are all competing for the job," said Braun. "But we've got three young guys we like, too. That's a healthy competition that we're sorting out. They're all capable and we could play a couple of guys until a clear winner emerges. Really, we probably won't name the starter until we get into Week 1."

Whoever gets the starting nod under center will have the luxury of being protected by a veteran offensive line than includes 6-foot-4, 300-pound preseason All-American senior tackle Joe Krall (New Berlin, Ill./New Berlin). In all, five other linemen who started at some point last season return - seniors Jared Dace (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) and Mason Harper (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) and sophomores Chris Kimble (Naples, Fla./St. John Neuman), Sebastian Garcia (Miami, Fla./John A. Ferguson) and Matt Thoele (Springfield, Ill./Springfield). A seventh lineman - senior Brady Boyd (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone) - returns to the mix after missing last season with an injury following a sophomore season in which he started the majority of the contests.

"We're fortunate to have so much experienced depth returning on the O-line," praised Braun. "We had a really good recruiting year and have some new guys who could step in, too. The line is definitely the strength of the offense. If we can block and run the ball, that's going to take some pressure off the quarterback and allow him to settle in. Our goal is to run the ball."

The defensive unit also returns a ton of experience on the line. Braun's defense led the nation last season in fewest points allowed, the second time in three years they've reached that lofty perch.

"I don't know that we'll repeat that stat, but we'll be solid up front," predicted Braun. "The difference between the offensive and defensive lines is that the offense returns a lot of starters. Our D-line returns a lot of experience, but we did lose a couple of elite starters with Thomas and Lamar."

Ready to bridge the gap are a pair of returners - junior Aubrey Vaughan (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) and sophomore Korbyn Personett (Pittsfield, Ill./Pittsfield). They both saw plenty of action on the junior varsity squad and came off the bench during varsity contests in special situations.

"They can play up front and did a great job at the JV level," said Braun. "Like a lot of our guys, they've paid their dues and waited for their opportunity."

The pair will be in the mix with veteran seniors McCauley Johnston (Wyoming, Ill./Stark County) and Brad Buchner (Poplar Grove, Ill./North Boone) and junior Drew Thaxton (Decatur, Ill./Eisenhower). Also expected to get "significant" minutes are sophomores Brandon Gaherty (Melbourne, Fla./East River) and Lucas Jones (Evergreen, Colo./Evergreen) and juniors Hayden Phillips (Mattoon, Ill./Mattoon) and Fabian Herrera (Miami, Fla./Doral Academy).

"McCauley, Brad and Drew have been probably our best interior linemen," speculated Braun. "McCauley missed last year with an injury, but getting him back for this season is a huge boost. We feel like we have good depth on the line."

Graduation will cause a retooling of the Scots' linebacking corps, led by two-time all-conference senior Clark Gaden (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood). Leading the team with 89 tackles a season ago, Gaden tops a group that includes senior Naulon Sims (Tremont, Ill./Tremont), juniors Brett Rissmann (Ballwin, Mo./LaFayette) and Carter Lewis (Mount Sterling, Ill./Brown County) and sophomores Reggie Willis (Chicago, Ill./Brooks College Prep), Evan Otto (Canton, Ill./Canton), Connor Dickenson (Chatham, Ill./Glenwood), Drake Dietrich (Chillicothe, Ill./ IVC) and Justin Douglas (Carol City, Fla./Miami Lakes).

"It sounds like a broken record, but we feel good about this group," said Braun of his linebackers. "A couple of them are dinged up a little, but we've got depth and talent."

Monmouth's secondary entered last season with question marks and ended the campaign with an exclamation point. The Scots return the entire unit from last season, giving Braun up to five defensive back starters.

"We were scrambling a year ago to figure out our secondary," confided Braun. "There's no question who will be back there this year. We've got five guys ready who played a ton of minutes last year."

Sophomore Mason Castricone (New Port Richey, Fla./J.W. Mitchell) and junior Brandon Graeff (Murphysboro, Ill./Murphysboro) each picked off a team-high three passes last season and join returners Connor Graeff (Murphysboro, Ill./Murphysboro) - a junior - and seniors Nick Miyler (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) and Seth Cunningham (Pontiac, Ill./Pontiac) to form a solid back wall.

"We feel good with the starting personnel we have coming back," said a confident Braun. "Then you add in a three sophomores, Jaylan Lopez (Homestead, Fla./John A. Ferguson), Donny Friedel (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) and Jeremiah Davis (Cleveland, Ohio/South Lake) competing at the corners. We're really deep at the cornerback position. We can say the same thing at safety with Tucker Anderson (Morton, Ill./Morton), Seby Wolf (Highland, Ill./Highland), Caleb Santana (Buda, Texas/Jack C. Hays) and Kaleb Plattenberg (Mount Carroll, Ill./West Carroll). We're as deep at safety as we've ever been."

When it comes to deep in the special teams, look no further than senior Joey Biel (Spokane, Wash./Northwest Christian). The left-footer was a weapon on both sides of the ball in 2018, punting nine balls over 50 yards, including a game-changing 77-yarder. Offensively, he made good on 43 of 46 PATs and knocked in a half dozen field goals.

"Joey's got a tremendous leg," said Braun. "He took on the punting duties a couple of years ago and has gotten better and better. He's a dangerous punter and an effective place kicker. Kicking and punting for field position are true weapons."

Looking to the future, Braun has two newcomers serving as Biel's understudies. Kicker Drew Hutson (Apollo Beach, Fla./Tampa Catholic) and punter Addison Fletcher (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) are prepping in the wings.

In keeping with his tradition, Braun won't dodge the competition in the early season, facing two ranked teams and one that is receiving votes in the first three games. The Scots open at home with No. 22 Wheaton on Sept. 7 and face No. 25 St. Norbert in their third game. In between, it's Wartburg, just 12 points out of a D3football.com top 25 ranking.

"I think we've got a harder schedule to open with this year than last year," claimed Braun, whose team opened with Wheaton and Wartburg a season ago when both were ranked in the top 25. "Really, we meet Ripon in the fourth game and they won seven games last year. All of our first four opponents won seven games or more last fall. It just might be the hardest schedule in the country. We could be a really good team and head into our divisional play without a win, but we'll embrace the challenge. It's not where you start, but where you finish."